Enjoy a rare and unique experience by straddling the headwaters of the mighty Colorado River where it originates at La Poudre Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Colorado, with the apropos appellation "Mother of Waters" is indispensable to the nation for the life-giving waters it supplies to five western states, from Colorado to the Gulf of California. Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California all draw water from this mighty river.

A complex array of trails are available to reach La Poudre Pass. Many who venture to this place often choose one route to reach their destination and a second route to return to the Colorado River trailhead where the day's adventure began.

Some of the outstanding landmarks along the routes are Shipler Park where remnants of old mines can be seen; the remnants of Lulu City, a mining community from 1879; Little Yellowstone Canyon that reflects the geology of the minerals that appear bright yellow, especially when they are wet from rain; Red Mountain Trail; Hells Hip Pocket; Hitchens and Skeleton Gulch; the Grand Ditch and much more.

The Colorado River drains a vast sector of the North American Continent encompassing a drainage basin of some 246,000 square miles. No other river in the world has cut so many deep trenches, such as the Grand Canyon, which is the largest and most spectacular.

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It is important for hydroelectric power and irrigation. There are 20 dams, including the Hoover Dam, that have been built on the Colorado and its tributaries. It has 8,500 miles of significant unposted trout streams and 2,000 trout lakes which are free and open to the public. More than 16,000,000 trout are caught in these waters each year.

Sign up information for this hike are posted at Komito Boots, the Estes Valley Library and cmc.org. For more information, contact Madeline Framson at 586-6623.

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